Kyiv February 26 2022: Fighting has broken out on the streets of Kyiv, the capital city’s government says in a statement quoted by Ukrainian news agency Interfax.
“There is fighting on the streets of our city at the moment,” it says and warns residents to stay in shelters and not to approach windows or balconies.
As the morning approaches, there are reports of intense fighting in Kyiv. According to a post on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Facebook page, “heavy battles are ongoing” in the Vasylkiv area of the city.
It adds that “active combat” is now taking place on the streets of the capital. The Kyiv government also confirmed the fighting in a statement earlier and warned residents to stay in shelters and not approach windows or balconies.
Reports by Kyiv-based journalists on social media also suggest that fighting has indeed broken out on the streets. Many are describing loud bangs and gunfire much nearer to the centre of the city.
Meanwhile, the Ukraine armed forces added that its troops had shot down a number of Russian “enemy targets” during the day, and had also stopped Russian troops from taking any of Ukraine’s cities.